Legislators Say They'll Help City In Search For Spur Route Funding

March 30, 1985|by BILL GERNERD, The Morning Call

Allentown officials won assurance yesterday they will have local legislative support in a bid to obtain state funding toward a $12-million project to link the new American Parkway to Airport Road and the Lehigh Valley Thruway.

Mayor Joseph S. Daddona and his aides, meeting with General Assembly members from Allentown, told the legislators, "We are planting the seed. We will need your help (to gain) state funds toward the project in lieu of the loss of the Spur Route.

"We saved the state $35 million 10 years ago, and now we are the only major city with no spur route," said Daddona.

The legislative delegation originally had wanted the meeting to be closed amid feelings they couldn't discuss matters freely. However, when the meeting time arrived,the public was allowed to attend.

Neal Kern, manager of the city's engineering bureau, told the state delegation, "We are looking for help on construction of a new Lehigh River bridge and the roadway from it to Airport Road."

While the total project cost will be about $12 million, according to current estimates, Kern indicated the city would expect it to be done in two phases, using a federal-state highway grant to do the work.

The state's share, spread over a two-year period, would run between $3 million and $4 million.

State Sen. Guy Kratzer, R-16th District, encouraged the city to provide him with a factual document when the city has such material ready.

Rep. John Pressmann, D-132nd District, also indicated the legislators would require input from the Joint Planning Commission of Lehigh-Northampton Counties and The Lehigh Valley Transportation Study.

The city currently is in the bidding stage for the final link of American Parkway, with the final phase to be done over two years.

In other matters discussed, the legislators' word on any chance of tax reform, which last year appeared to be making headway, was "dismal," according to Daddona.

But even that bit of bad news carried a slight ray of hope, with the indication the local legislators would consider support for a new class of city - Class 3-A for cities of Allentown's size - to provide more flexibility in home rule.

Allentown hopes to steer away from reliance on property taxes and shift more of a burden to earned income.

City officials, who have been pressing for state legislation mandating seat belt use, were told there's little chance any of the proposed bills will be enacted by the General Assembly at this time.

Many legislators are waiting to see if similar laws in New York and New Jersey generate positive results.

The legislators also advised city officials there's little chance of winning support to have the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission take on the task of regulating landfill costs. They had no opinion on the chances of passing such duties on to the state Department of Environmental Resources.